Title: Why Marx Was Right
Author: Terry Eagleton
First published April 12, 2011
258 pages, Hardcover
Rating: 3.9
Overview
Why Marx Was Right by Terry Eagleton is a bold and thought-provoking book that challenges the misconception that Marxism is a thing of the past. Through addressing ten of the most common objections against Marxism, such as its association with political tyranny and reduction of everything to the economic, Eagleton reveals the misinterpretation of Marx’s original philosophy.
With the current global crises that have shaken the foundations of capitalism, this book is a timely reminder of the relevance of Marxist ideals. Written with Eagleton’s signature wit, humor, and lucidity, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the complexity of Marxist thought beyond academia.
About the Author
Dr. Terry Eagleton is widely considered to be England’s most influential living literary critic and theorist. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of English Literature at the University of Lancaster and a Visiting Professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Prior to this, he held the Thomas Warton Professorship of English Literature at the University of Oxford from 1992 to 2001, and the John Edward Taylor Professorship of English Literature at the University of Manchester until 2008. In the fall semester of 2009, he returned to the University of Notre Dame as a Distinguished Visitor in the English Department.
Dr. Eagleton has authored more than 40 books, including “Literary Theory: An” (1983), “The Ideology of the Aesthetic” (1990), and “The Illusions of Postmodernism” (1996). He delivered Yale’s Terry Lectures in 2008 and gave the Gifford Lecture in March 2010, titled “The God Debate.”
Editoral Review
“Why Marx Was Right” by Terry Eagleton is a nonfiction book first published in 2011, which synthesizes and defends some of the core Marxist ideas. Eagleton is a prominent British literary critic, and philosopher, who is known for his radical views on literature, culture, and politics.
In “Why Marx Was Right,” Eagleton argues that despite the many shortcomings and misinterpretations of Marxist theory and practice, Marx’s insights and critiques of capitalism are still relevant and valuable today. Eagleton addresses common criticisms of Marxism, such as its supposed impracticality, utopianism, and violence, and refutes them by providing a nuanced and sophisticated analysis of Marxist philosophy and political economy.
The book is structured thematically, with each chapter focusing on a different aspect of Marx’s thought, such as historical materialism, alienation, exploitation, communism, and religion. Eagleton illustrates each of these concepts with examples from literature, history, and contemporary politics, which makes his argument more accessible and engaging.
One of the strengths of this book is Eagleton’s ability to make complex ideas accessible to the general reader. He uses wit and humor to counter some of the misconceptions and stereotypes of Marxism, and his prose is lively and engaging.
Moreover, he does not shy away from acknowledging the flaws and limitations of Marx’s thought, which adds credibility to his argument. However, some readers might find the book too polemical and biased towards Marxist ideas, and Eagleton’s selective use of evidence might be seen as cherry-picking to support his arguments.
Also, some topics, such as the role of the state and the transition to a communist society, are not covered in depth, which might leave some readers wanting more. Overall, “Why Marx Was Right” is a thought-provoking and engaging defense of Marxism, which is likely to resonate with readers interested in political philosophy, economics, and social justice.
It is a timely reminder of the relevance of Marxist ideas in our globalized and unequal world, and it challenges readers to think critically about the flaws and possibilities of capitalism. Thus, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding Marx’s thought and its contemporary relevance, although I would also encourage readers to approach it with a critical eye.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
